Kilifi County Assembly committee’s public hearing aborts

A public meeting organized by Kilifi County Assembly to discuss the proposed County Transport (Regulation and Control) Bill 2015 aborted for the third time after Kaloleni residents declined to give their input.

The residents claimed they were not given ample time to scrutinize the bill before giving out their views.

Roads, Transport and infrastructure committee members camped for hours at the Kaloleni women hall over the weekend before calling off the exercise and advising the public to write a memorandum to the assembly for their input.

Speaking to the press after calling off the function, the committees chairman Anthony Kenga Mupe said he was shocked with the poor turnout at the public meeting.

“We have visited three sub counties and we were welcomed with similar sentiments,” Mupe said.

“We advertised on the dates we would be visiting the various sub counties for the public participation through print and electronic media. We also made sure the Bill had been printed and forwarded to the relevant officers for distribution seven days before our visit but we are shocked to learn people have been given the draft bill today,” he added.

He warned that the assembly will not hesitate to take action against officers he said were not doing their job as required.

“There seems to be laxity either on the Sub County or ward administrator’s side. This is embracing because people are not giving their input as they should. We cannot blame the public but our officers who do not avail the bill on time,” Mupe told Baraka FM.

Some members of the public present wanted the bill to be translated in both Kiswahili and Mijikenda dialect so that the community can properly understand it.

“Even before we can have our input, what about those who do not understand the English language.

The bill would have been better off translated to Kiswahili and also in our Mijkenda language for easy understanding. I am concerned that this bill touches on the community and hence it should be well understood,” said Kaingu Kuchanja.

Another resident Kitsao Kazungu from Mwanamwinga said the time frame for the public participation on the bill was too short for them to air their views.

Mupe said the committee is running short of time because it is required to submit its report to the assembly by 28th of this month.